After reading Can We Revive Auftragstaktik I to III, I came across these passages from the Osprey Essential Histories series, The French Wars 1667-1714, The Sun King at war:
“Armies, the French paradigm
The military development of France under Louis XIV became a model for Europe, encouraging like organization, administration, and tactics. The Sun King boasted the largest army of his day, and the most indomitable battalions on the Continent …
The state asserted its control over its armed forces as never before. Previous to the personal reign of Louis XIV, generals often operated as if they were independent princes. However, the Sun King imposed greater order on his generals, particularly after Turenne's death; seniority became the principle for precedence among high-level commanders, and obedience was expected and enforced at all levels.
Changes in administration and command accompanied this transformation of army size, composition, and control. To manage these larger, more regular, and more expensive armies, governments created or vastly expanded the military ministries.”
I wonder if one can trace the demise of initiative and even success at war to the growth of centralized decision making in the person of the King or Commanding General and of bureaucratic control in the form of large staffs? Certainly changes in accession to senior leadership roles and freedom of action once there would have a stultifying impact far beyond the loss of a brilliant leader such as Turenne.
To think independently and yet accept responsibility. Genius.
Yes just do it and don’t ask permission.
Don’t ask about Auftragstatik club…
After reading Can We Revive Auftragstaktik I to III, I came across these passages from the Osprey Essential Histories series, The French Wars 1667-1714, The Sun King at war:
“Armies, the French paradigm
The military development of France under Louis XIV became a model for Europe, encouraging like organization, administration, and tactics. The Sun King boasted the largest army of his day, and the most indomitable battalions on the Continent …
The state asserted its control over its armed forces as never before. Previous to the personal reign of Louis XIV, generals often operated as if they were independent princes. However, the Sun King imposed greater order on his generals, particularly after Turenne's death; seniority became the principle for precedence among high-level commanders, and obedience was expected and enforced at all levels.
Changes in administration and command accompanied this transformation of army size, composition, and control. To manage these larger, more regular, and more expensive armies, governments created or vastly expanded the military ministries.”
I wonder if one can trace the demise of initiative and even success at war to the growth of centralized decision making in the person of the King or Commanding General and of bureaucratic control in the form of large staffs? Certainly changes in accession to senior leadership roles and freedom of action once there would have a stultifying impact far beyond the loss of a brilliant leader such as Turenne.